Since the launch of a new generation of game consoles, the problem of supply seems to have not been resolved. Whether it is Microsoft’s Xbox Series X, Sony’s PlayStation 5, Nintendo’s Switch, and even the recently launched Valve Steam Deck, all encountered in the early stages of product release. Serious out-of-stock problem.
Today, some of these supply problems have ushered in a turnaround, but some are still in the predicament and have not improved. For game console manufacturers, although their operating systems are different, in order to achieve differences in hardware performance, they will choose custom SoCs. For example, Sony, Valve and Microsoft have chosen to customize chips from AMD, and Nintendo chose to customize chips from NVIDIA. , which means that their SoC chip production capacity is irreplaceable, and they cannot pull inventory from elsewhere.
Even so, as the core components of game consoles, the production capacity and supply of such SoC chips are almost certain to be improved, but up to now, it is the wireless/Bluetooth module that has really slowed down the supply of game consoles.
Sony starts to shake off supply woes
Let’s take Sony’s PS5 as an example. This machine uses Sony’s wireless module J20H100. However, in the new version launched in 2021, Sony replaced this module with a new model AW-XM501. According to the test of netizens, the new module has higher gain on 5GHz Wi-Fi, but the wireless performance on 2.4GHz is reduced. However, these two modules use NXP’s 88W9000S Wi-Fi/Bluetooth 5.1 chip, which should only be changed in the antenna design.
In addition, Sony seems to have begun to consider Wi-Fi 6E. The author found a new wireless module J20H103 submitted by Sony this year in the FCC database. In terms of frequency, the module adds a 6GHz frequency band to the J20H100. If you read its user manual carefully, you will find that Sony has replaced the chip on this module with MediaTek’s Wi-Fi 6E/Bluetooth 5.2 chip MT7921AUN.
The complex supply situation not only appears on the machine body, but also on the gamepad that comes with a random bonus or needs to be purchased additionally. Take Sony’s PS5 handle, which supports wired and Bluetooth connections, but Sony did not choose a general solution. Instead, a custom chip SIE CXD90064GG is used. However, for power management, the handle still chooses Dialog’s DA9087 PMIC, and the PS5 handle has the audio output function of direct-connected headphones, so it also uses Realtek’s ALC5524 audio codec chip and Nuvoton’s NAU8225 D class audio amplifier.
The CXD9006GG chip should be designed by Sony’s game department SIE from the perspective of the prefix, but from the naming point of view, it still follows the naming rules of Sony’s other self-developed/custom chips, such as the noise reduction used in Sony’s noise-cancelling headphones. The processor chip CXD90050.
Considering that Sony also has its own semiconductor business, and its consumer electronics products have more categories than Microsoft and Nintendo, it is normal for the management of the supply chain to be better than the two. Even though the PS5 uses more chips than the other two, up to now, neither the machine body nor the handle has been out of stock. Sony also said in its recent earnings report that they have begun to step up their promotional stocking during the Christmas holiday, and they are confident to complete the PS5 stocking target as the supply chain has improved.
Complaining Microsoft and Nintendo
The situation of Microsoft is slightly more serious when it is affected by the supply chain. From the perspective of the supply situation of the e-commerce platform, both its flagship model Xbox Series X and the controller used are in a state of insufficient supply, especially It’s the handle, it’s been out of stock for almost a year. Microsoft’s official statement is that the shortage is caused by supply chain disruptions, and they are working with manufacturers and retailers to solve this problem, so it seems that there is a shortage of wireless chips.
Microsoft’s wireless controller supports two wireless transmission methods: 2.4GHz dedicated protocol and Bluetooth. From the dismantling diagram on the Internet, Microsoft uses a custom chip on its controller, and the silk screen has the logo of “Microsoft ARM”, the label is X905893-002. Judging from the design information I found in the Bluetooth SIG, this chip should be customized by Microsoft and MediaTek. As for why it is out of stock, it may be due to production capacity issues.
According to Nikkei Asia, Nintendo’s Switch sales in Q2 this year were 33% lower than expected, and the culprit is likely to be a component related to the Bluetooth function. As an initial version of the host released in March 2017, although several versions have been iterated, it has only changed in battery life and screen. There are not many changes in the chip, at least in the wireless chip. .
On the host body, the Wi-Fi Bluetooth chip used by Nintendo is CYW4356X (formerly Broadcom BCM4356X) of Infineon/Cypress, and in addition to the NFC control chip ST21NFCB from STMicroelectronics, the handle also uses Infineon/Cypress’s CYW20734 (formerly Broadcom BCM20734) Bluetooth chip, both of which support the Bluetooth 4.1 protocol, from the information given on the distributor’s website, the reference delivery dates of these two Bluetooth chips are both. It’s been 52 weeks, and it’s no wonder that Switch supplies are affected.
Epilogue
As a product category with a sales volume of tens of millions, game consoles will sell the whole machine if there is a problem in any part of the chip supply. The shortage of wireless chips this time has caused these console manufacturers who rely on wireless controllers to suffer a big loss, but Changing suppliers or changing designs will undoubtedly have a huge impact on the life cycle of a product, which is why out-of-stocks persist after more than a year has passed. According to the author, if they can achieve the same or similar performance, game console manufacturers can try the solution of multi-chip suppliers on the wireless controller. In this way, as long as they do not encounter global supply and capacity problems, they can live in peace. .